In No Particular Order

You know how it goes, I get busy and take a mini-hiatus on the blog thing and then the only way to ease back into things is by bulleting.  There is so much to say and my mind (and Type A) surely can't tackle the organizing of thoughts this early in the morning...so here we go....

• Had my family in town Friday through Monday.  Kinley is now thoroughly spoiled rotten.  It was cramped quarters, big time, in our cracker box apartment, but we survived.
• I had an interview for a teachers aide in a school district where I really, really, really want to work.  But I don't know how confident I feel...my interviewing skills suck.  But I'm working on that.  And I think what will really hurt me is that I want to be a teacher and therefore will not be a long term person for their position.  And they want long term.  :(
• I have got to buckle down on my budget.  I was We were bad with our finances in July.  Well, the end of July, anyway.  We were using our debit cards and that is such a no-no.  I am tempted to take them out of our wallets to reduce temptation.  
• I just realized that it's after 9 and Kin is still sleeping.  Guess that's expected when she was up till 11:00 because "a wolf was trying to get her in her room."  Uh huh.  That's started.
• The yard sale that we're joining with friends is this weekend.  I have to buckle down and finish going through our stuff.
• School starts in roughly 2-4 weeks in our area.  Ugh!  When do the interview calls start?
• My hubby took Monday off to watch Kinley during my interview and now my days of the week are all jacked up!  I even commented yesterday that I was shocked that the bank inside the grocery store was open on a Sunday.  He kindly reminded me that it was in fact, Monday.  So today is my Tuesday Monday.  
• I am so excited that today is ballet day!  I love going and socializing with the other dance mommies!

Scattered Thoughts

Let's do this with bullets, shall we?

• I would like to push my upstairs neighbors down the stairs.  They always choose Kinley's sleeping times to stomp down the stairs and slam the entry door at least 500 times.  And more often than not, it wakes her and mommy demon comes out.  I so badly want to put a "Child's Sleeping" sign in the entryway.  But I'm too chicken.  And they wouldn't care anyway.
• The past few nights, I am having vivid pregnancy dreams.  I love it and hate it at the same time.  I am filled with bliss in the dream and ticked off when I wake up.
• I got smart and took my meds {fertility} at bedtime.  Wanted to avoid the headache and tummy ache. It worked.
• I had a scary solicitor come to my door last week.  I should know better than to just answer my door without knowing who it is.  He overstayed his welcome {in the entryway, I didn't let him in.  I'm not that dumb.} and fully creeped me out.  Luckily, my hubby came home just minutes after he left and was able to hunt him down in our complex.  He threatened the boy's life.  It's not like we don't have "No Soliciting" on the entry door to all apartments.  Geez.  So now I also put this up on our private door.
    
• I got over my monstrous melt down about the student loan double payment yesterday, and calmly called them back and asked them to just apply that money to my next month's payment.  I admit, I felt foolish for the scene I had caused earlier.  And wouldn't you know it that I got the same guy on the phone.  Ugh.  So embarrassing.  
• We dropped out of Church ABC.  And if you know what that means, kudos!   You've been around for a while and I so super appreciate that.  If not, it was our {then} new church.  It was great while it was great, and then we stopped finding what it was we were looking for.  So I found another one to try and I'm hoping we will go this Sunday.
• I am totally bummed that the 4th is on a Wednesday.  And because of the storms, my husband is working it. :(
• Okay, I'm going to say it.  I don't get the whole Thirty-One thing.  I have shopped the catalog several times, never went to a party, but mom got Kage and I bags--her the drawstring one for dance and me the large utility.  I'm not seeing the hype.  There, I said it.

I found this picture in my husband's phone and
had to send it to myself.  It was taken in the Spring when
we were visiting the city.  She fell asleep in my arms.
Love this girl.

I'm like popcorn...

I have been sitting here reading my favorite blogs for over an hour and decided to just hit that old "Post" button and write one of my own.  Blogging has totally taken a back seat here lately and I don't know why.  It truly is a love in my life and something that I so dearly need.  This is such an outlet for me....but somehow there is just never a spare moment to splurge.

My job is going very well.  Great pay and great benefits?  What's not to love? Oh, and winter break starts after school on Tuesday.  I am off for about two weeks.  Yes, that is splendid.

Kinley is fantastic.  Perfect.  Crazy!  TWO!  We took her to see Santa today and I must say that it was so much better than last year.  So. much. better.  Remember last year?

Yeah...she wasn't liking the jolly ole' fat guy too much then.

This year...

A little more tolerant. She just really wanted the candy.

Her party was a great success and she really enjoyed herself.  I wish I could have taken more pictures but the time just flew by and my camera never really found me during the party. 

How sad is it that I can't wait for Christmas to get over with?  It's true.  I want it to come and go.  Quick-like.  Mostly because this weekend, we had a taste of not traveling.  And no joke, it is the first weekend in months that we've been home.  Well, home with no major plans.  We commented earlier that this is the first nap that Kin has taken in her bed since....well, we can't remember the last time.  It's been that crazy in our lives lately.

After Christmas, no more traveling.  Did you hear that?

I just put my foot down.  Hard. 

Are you making resolutions, or goals, as I like to call them, for 2012?  What are they?  I have a few.  I'll share soon.  Maybe. I sometimes don't like to share...it gives me too much accountability.  And I don't do too well with that.  Too much pressure to do what I say I'm going to do!  :)

It's my goal during my winter break to catch you all up on the happenings in my head.  Or if nothing else, to just get them out of my head and into this old blog of mine.  It's time that it does what it was intended to do.....

I just don't get it....

Really?  I just don't get it.  Do you see what this person has hanging from the hitch of the truck?  I see it way more often than I care to...and each time it makes me uncomfortable.  I really don't want to see a scrotum hanging in front of me on the expressway.  Mmmmm, K?!
Is it a secret scrotum society or what?  Am I missing the fun in it?  If so, please explain.  I can't wait to hear the logic behind wanting your truck to "have a pair."

Oh Crap, It's Croup...

If you were a reader last winter, you may remember all of the trouble we had with Kinley having pneumonia twice and croup (more than once?).  Well, here we are again.  First week of October and she's got croup.  Grrr.  Last night was a rough one, she was coughing so bad.  Her and I were up quite a bit.  I had R take her to the Pediatrician today and sure enough.  Just as I thought.  Five days on the steroid and hopefully it clears up.  Thankfully, she's not acting sick during the day.  It's just the nights and early mornings that are rough.  But what luck that she's come down with it marathon weekend?  We can't win.
The doctor recommended that we keep her going tonight.  Let her run to her heart's content.  Running makes her breathe deeper and will help prevent pneumonia from setting in again.  So after the appointment, R took her outside to run.  When I got home from work, we went to the park to feed the quack quacks and run, then to the library to play in the children's corral and had to run a Target errand.  Okay, so not so much a real errand but a very strong desire to get her some new denim jeggings to go with these oh so cute boots that I found for her to wear this Fall.  Oh yeah, and I needed laundry detergent. 

On the way to Target, my exhaustion was setting in.  My feet were aching.  My back hurt.  I was feeling all of my 32 (I am 32, right?!) years.  I took a "back way" to the shopping area of the town where we live and meandered through a nice, established neighborhood.  You know the kind: nice houses but not overly nice.  Mature trees.  Families.  Some retirees.  Just a nice, clean, well kept neighborhood.  As I was driving through, I saw an older couple (like white hair, older) walking hand in hand.  In white shorts.  (Did they match on purpose?)  And then I passed a man vacuuming his driveway.  Yes, vacuuming.  And then I passed a family outside in the driveway just enjoying each other's company.

I can't wait to have the time to vacuum my driveway.  Okay, so I totally wouldn't do that...but I am envious of the time that he has.  Really?  He must have *nothing* else to do in life if he can fit in driveway vacuuming. 

Some Most All of my days seem to go so fast that I am waiting for the day that my head spins and plum falls off.  O-F-F.

There were days in my life where I remember having coast time...but those days seem like eons ago.  Another life time maybe.  I keep thinking that this life will slow down soon....but then again, maybe being so busy living is a good thing?

Maybe it's the fact that it's almost all work and little play...

My blonde moment

I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong.  I also have no problem admitting when I goof. 

A total blonde moment yesterday in class.

I presented my "About Me" poster to the students.  You know the kind: where were you born, where do you live, who is your family, what are your hobbies, your dislikes, what do you want to be when you grow up (to which I responded "a world traveler" but the students informed me that I am already grown up) and finally, how old I am.

Last night it dawned on me that I wrote on my poster and presented to my students and cooperating teacher that I am in fact 31. 

Doh!

I am 32.  Really.  I totally forgot how old I am.

How does this happen?
Does anyone else ever forgot how old they really are?  Like, I had to actually do the calculations...I was born in 78 and now it's 11. 

I'm totally going to let this one slide.  I gave myself a year back....and they don't know any different.

The Bad Side of Blogging

It's true that the lack of blogging lately is due to my student teaching.  But it's also do to the bad side of blogging.

The putting yourself out there, in the open, left to be judged.

You spill your thoughts.  You tell your worries.  You share your story.

And then so easily, one comes along and just rips your heart out and stomps on it.

I knew going in to this whole blogging experience that I would have to "grow thicker skin" because let's face it...."anonymous" is not a nice person.  They say mean things.  They hurt your feelings.  They question your parenting style and make you wish you had never started "Living On Trees."

Lots of things make me second guess keeping this blog going. 

Why bother when I'm being portrayed as a bad mom or not doing things in the best interest of my daughter?  Why bother when I can't even be myself and have my own place..... you know?

And then, I realize WHY I am here.  I remember why Living On Trees does exist.

It's here because it's my place.  It is my ideas.  It is my story. 

There will always be an anonymous lurking in the shadow waiting to catch me on the already bad day when I over slept, kissed my crying baby girl good-bye, forgot my breakfast, realized I forgot my paperwork and missed an assignment.  Anonymous will always be there to kick me in the gut....

But I am strong enough to know that I am a GREAT mom.  I ALWAYS put my daughter and family first.  And I am a good person.  I have original ideas, I have original ways and I am one of a kind.  And, this is my way of sharing. 

Anonymous doesn't need to read if they don't like what I have to say.  There are ten million other blogs out there that you just may like. 

You won't get me down.
Move along.

The most touching thing....

It takes a lot to make me cry at the drop of a hat.  I mean, I am soft and cry a lot but to go from zero to sob?  Not happening all too often.

I admit that I'm behind on the whole 'net scene since starting the student teaching thing.  And maybe this has already made it's circulation a week ago and I'm just now seeing it....regardless, it's good and it's true love and it's absolutely heart wrenching.

The loyal dog that lies next to the deceased Navy Seal's casket.  I am a dog lover, and know the unconditional love that a dog has for his owners.  And if this doesn't prove it, nothing will.  The photographer that did our wedding pictures sent me a FB invite to join a "Man's Best Friend" photo contest and in his invite, he mentioned the loyal dog next the casket picture.  Well, me being the Internet stranger these days had no clue what he was talking about.  So, I googled it.  Came across the above referenced page and sobbed.  Couldn't even make it through the short article. 

My husband was sitting behind me and asked what was wrong and I couldn't even speak.  I got up and pointed to my laptop. 

God Bless that soldier and his faithful companion.

P.S.  I couldn't post the pictures from the article as they are much to painful for me to look at again. 

Monday Run-Down

It almost feels like I shouldn't even get started on this...Kinley has been crying out for the last hour, and much of the night, really.  Must be her teeth?  I don't know.  I don't think it's night terrors this time cause it's not that panic cry out---more like a whine cry out.  And if Lucy has anything to do with it, she'll be up in no time.  That dog annoys me sometimes.  Okay, all the time.

Where to begin?  We did so much this weekend with my in-laws in town.  They got in on Friday early evening.  They arrived a little before Richie got home from work, so they spent that time trying to get Kinley to warm up to them.  And it didn't take long...once they unloaded the gifts that they had brought for her.  My favorite...the wooden train that spells out her name.  Way cute.

After Richie got home, of course we went to eat.  The first of our eating extravaganza weekend.  Giordano's Pizza was first.  It's good Chicago pizza, but we only go there when we have company.  It is a good tourist place to go but as "locals" we choose a local place in town.  No biggie though.  Kinley was a nightmare in the restaurant (see why we haven't weaned the paci yet?!) and refused all dinner and would only eat fruit snacks.  So, whatever.  And before we were done eating, Grandma had to walk laps with her around the restaurant to keep her from freaking out.  Grandparents don't seem to mind those fits nearly as much as the parents.  But it was our fault....we should know better than to go to a restaurant near bedtime and order pizza...where it takes 45 minutes to cook.

On Saturday, Richie decided --on his own-- that he would skip out on the duck blind drawing.  I tried convincing him otherwise while doing cartwheels on the inside.  I just didn't want him to regret it.  But he hasn't yet!  So we decided to go to the city and see the Body Works exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry.  R and I had seen it before when we were just dating but his parents had never seen it.  We had to kind of look fast because Kage wasn't very interested but they seemed to really enjoy it.

This is that forced picture that they take before every exhibit.  Of course we didn't buy it but they give you a code to see it online....so I copy/pasted a little.  Can you believe that they want thirty bucks for this thing?!  Nothankyou.

And now I must address this picture.

I posted it last night in my blog post and (as we expected) got texts about "OMG, you have your kid on a leash!"....we totally expected those.  My sister begged me not to buy it....but this child is WILD!  She will only last in a stroller for a short time and carrying her is not an option when she twists and contorts and will do almost anything to get free.  We both swore that we would never be those parents and degrade our child by putting her on a leash.  And then we became those parents and hereby swear that the leash is an amazing invention.  Kinley *loved* the puppy backpack.  She cuddled it the whole way into the city.

So when it was time to leash her up, she was more than thrilled to wear the puppy on her back.  And....she felt free to explore.  All fussy behavior stopped.  It was a miracle.  And, she was safe and in arms reach.  So--judge if you will.  It was a life-saver.  And I highly recommend it to all toddler parents.  I think it helped to let her play with the backpack part of it first.  To see that it wasn't scary or strange or whatever.  I don't think I would use it anywhere but in a large place like a museum where she's required to be on good behavior for an extended amount of time.  But that's just me.

And a side note....I totally got my first period post-Kinley at the museum.  No lie.  Two days after the Mirena removal.  Obviously that was the problem.  Anyway...yippee that my body is trying to be "normal!"

Saturday night we got home and decided to get something ordered in since Kage was super sleepy.  We ordered in Gyros from our favorite local place.  Yummo.  And the parents liked them.  They were unsure if they would or not...and were super skeptical.  We were all exhausted from the day, so it was early bedtime for all of us.

On Sunday we decided to miss church since the parents didn't want to go with us and we felt guilty just leaving them here with nothing to do for two hours.  Which sucks because I really wanted to hear the message at yesterday's service.  Our pastor did a 4 week series on Daniel and Sunday was the final week.  So we missed the end of the series.  I'm going to look online today to see if it is posted, it usually is.  But instead of going to church we went out for breakfast (and Kinley did pretty good) and then went to our favorite park.  Kinley was able to feed the geese--she calls them quack quacks---whatever.  We walked to the Chinese gardens and played tourist again.  It was a gorgeous day!  Kinley just loves being outside.  And there are pictures posted of the gardens below in yesterday's post.  If you wanna see.

They left town late afternoon and we vegged on the couch through Kinley's nap. 

It was a nice weekend.  I loved having my husband home the whole time.  That makes it nice....but so much harder for Monday to come. 

Our renters called yesterday and told us that the tree in the front yard keeps dropping limbs in the storms that have been going through, so we have to make a trip down to remove the tree.  Thank goodness that we know a tree guy!  I'm so excited to get to visit my friends down there!  I have been wanting to go for weeks but couldn't find the time.  Now, we have to make the time.  So next weekend we will be spending a few days in southern IL.  Yea!

So that is my Monday run-down.  My summer semester ends on Thursday which means a presentation and final on Thursday.  Ick.  Aren't you happy that you aren't me this week?  And I noticed just how many times I mention Kinley in a post when I click on the spell check and I see a million (or maybe ten) Kinleys highlighted.  :)

And she's awake and clapping for herself, so my mommy work day begins now!  TTFN!

My thing...

For some girls, the vision of this, makes their tummy get butterflies:

And for some, maybe the sight of this will make their heart skip a beat:

And for some, maybe the idea of this will make them all happy inside:

And for some, maybe this is enough to just make them smile:

And then there are those who can be satisfied and feel all filled up with happiness by just seeing this:

We all have our things that make us tick.  Those things that just make us happy.  Those things that make you giddy.

For me, these are my things.

Yes, the return of the school year brings out all of the fun school supplies!  I run to the aisles and look at all of the new pencils and folders.  All of the Elmers and Crayola!  I seriously go nuts.  I get excited over this stuff, peeps. 

I guess it's how I know that my calling to be a teacher is deep rooted in this heart of mine.  Because even though I'm not teaching yet, the start of each school year has always caused an awakening in me.  Kind of the way that Spring does each year.  It awakens the fresh start. 

Call me crazy (and I'm sure you will) but school supplies and the "Back To School" aisles, are my thing.

Not to say that I would turn down Coach, Tiffany, a new Apple product, Godiva or Starbucks.

I wanna be a millionaire so frickin' bad....

Really?  Spam has really gotten out of control these days.  And really?  Do people fall for this crap?  It just makes me laugh.  This came in my email inbox tonight:

Dear Friend,

With due respect, I am glad to know you, but God knows you better and he knows why he has directed me to you, at this point in time so do not be afraid. Please I want to transfer the sum of 10.5million dollars into your bank account in your country immediately because the owner of this fund is dead since 2006 leaving no body for the claim, this is the reason why I want to present you as next of kin, as to enable the bank order for the immediate release of this fund into your bank account without any delay.

Please if you are interested kindly indicate as to proceed immediately,
Thanks
Yours Faithfully
Mr Mark Moree

MmmmmmK, Mr. Mark Moree, you just go ahead and send me that amount in a cashier's check, pleaseandthankyou.

*Yours* Faithfully,
Not a sucker

To cut or not to cut?

This is the blog post where you sit back and say, "really?  Wow.  This chick is nuts."  Or maybe you say that after every blog post. 

So yesterday, it was my 'me day' and Kage was at day care from 9ish-4.  So what did I do?  Sat my butt on facebook and blogged.  Yes.  All day long.  I wasted a day.  Well, okay, I didn't *waste* it.  I needed a day of nothing.  I earned a day of nothing.  And well, I enjoyed the day of nothing. 

I didn't clean house, I didn't prepare dinner, I didn't do laundry.  I did nothing.

Well, until the afternoon.  I finally got showered and put together and went to apply for yet another serving job.  You'd think that after three no calls I'd give up.  Not this girl!  So I went and filled out one more application.  It seemed a little more promising.  The manager actually chatted with me for a minute and told me that he'd call me for an interview.  Promising, right?  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  I need this job.

And so after the application, I drove the distance to get Kin from day care.  Have I mentioned how far and out of the way her sitter is?!  It's really, really out of the way.  But she loves it there....so that's why we keep her there.  For now.

On my way, I was jamming out to the new tunes that I bought from itunes.  I know, I shouldn't have.  But I wanted a few new songs to listen to!  Ugh.  See, I need that job.

I downloaded the new Brit song, Till the World Ends.  And I downloaded the new Nelly song, Just A Dream.  And I downloaded Katy Perry's song, E.T.  And I downloaded Ke$ha's song Blow.  So four new songs for a total of just over five bucks.  Guilt.  I shouldn't have blown the money.  Too late now.

Back to the story.

So I'm jamming to the new songs and cruising along...it was sunny, nice (a little windy) but nice.  I had the windows cracked (not enough to ruin the flat ironed hair but enough to smell the fresh air).  It was one of those times when you feel good, you look good and everything is AOK in your world. 

I pulled up next to this big truck and the driver resembled none other than one of the hottest guys ever, Travis Barker from Blink 182.  Yeah, see.  Told you that you would think that I was whack.  Yes, I think he's hot.  Tattoos and all.  And well, the trucker was hot.  And he waved at me and he smiled at me.  And it made the ego swell so much that I had to roll the windows down ever further.
I was feeling pretty good.  Got the old smile and wave from a hottie, the weather was good, the music was great. 

And then, in the height of my coolness.....on comes the song from Will.I.Am called "What I Am."  Yes.  The one from Sesame Street.  Kin has her own songs on the ipod and that is one of them.  It was shuffled into the "recently added" playlist that I was jamming to and I had forgotten.

 And my radio was way too loud.  And the windows were down.  So yes....at that stop light everyone surely heard me rockin' out to Sesame Street.  Granted, no one paid any attention whatsoever.  But talk about an ego buzz kill to look at yourself in the mirror and see yourself feeling way cool and rocking out, only to have a Sesame Street song come on and remind you that, oh yeah, you're still a mom.  In an SUV. 

Come down off of that 'good old times when you were 25 and hot' high, girlie.

And I guess that today is a hair talk kind of day.  My friend texted me earlier and told me that she was finally ready to cut her baby girl's hair.  That text came in about 30 minutes after I snapped this picture.

Her dad and I have been talking about that first hair cut for a couple of days now.  Well, seriously talking about it.  We've mentioned it a few times over the past couple of months but we're seriously talking now.  I mean, this poor girl has bangs to her nose.  That has got to be annoying.  And I try doing the pony tail sprout on top of her head.  I've done the pig tails.  I have hair bows and even splurged on the No Slippy Hair Clippy. They all look so cute in her hair and they serve their purpose of holding her hair out of her eyes and stay put.  Well, they stay put until the Kinley Monster figures out that something is attached to her head.  Then she freaks out and rips it out along with a handful of hair.  Seeing a handful of her adorable blonde hair being ripped out makes me want to cry.  So, I just don't bother. 

But what do I do?  I hate that it's in her eyes all day, every day.  I don't want people to think of her as a scroungy (how do you spell that) kid.  But I don't want her to have the straight across bangs either.  I mean, I have intentions of never cutting this child's hair.  Like, ever.  Or until she can make that decision on her own.

So I'm stuck.  I don't know what to do with her hair.  There are so many of those cute little kid hair cut places here and I just don't know if I can do it.  I'm stressing out just thinking about it.  Obviously, I am not ready to make that decision.

Croc-a-doodle-doo

Last night, I got kicked out of my own bed, by the dog.  I don't know why I can't 'man up' when it comes to the dog.  I am her biggest supporter and defender....yet she causes me nothing but trouble at night.  I'm the one that says that it's okay for her to be in our bed.  I may need to rethink that plan.  The past few nights have been rough sleeping.  Not only am I hacking a lung all.night.long but Lucy wants to sleep between my legs, on top of the blankets.  Makes for a very uncomfortable night.  And she doesn't listen to me, so pushing her causes her to push back, yelling at her makes her snore louder....  it's just easier to take my pillow to the couch.

Kage got up at 5:30 this morning, which has become the norm for her.  Remember back in the day when I would get up at 5:30 in order to blog, have my coffee and 'me time' before she awoke.  Ha.  Not anymore.  I'd have to be up at 4:00 for that to happen.  So my me time is during nap #1.  And I get about 90 minutes to blog, facebook, shower, clean the house.  No rush.

This morning, I put Kin into her stroller at about 6:30 and off we went for a nice long walk before the heat got to be too much.  It was gorgeous outside!  We walked from our apartment community all the way to the downtown area and back.  At least a couple of miles round trip.  She did so good.  She loves trucks and buses, so every time one would pass she would wave and then say buh-bye (and I swear that she thinks she is in Georgia because she has the cutest southern drawl). 

Everything is becoming so green!  I love spring....so renewing!  And have I mentioned how incredibly happy I am that we have moved?  This new town is so freakin' cute.  I mean it is way cute.  The little downtown area just looks like it fell out of a Nicholas Sparks novel.  And although we downsized from a town home to an apartment....we I love, love, love this apartment.  I love everything about it.  And I hope that it stays that way....for a while, at least.  Cause my goal is to live here for two years...to pay off my student loans after graduation.  That's the plan anyway.  But then again, God laughs at plans and there is no crystal ball to tell me what my future holds.  So we'll just see.  But for today, I'm so happy here and can't see myself anywhere else.

She got sleepy on our way back.  So she had to rest her baby head for a minute.  The 'daycare lady' let her borrow this pair of crocs.  I guess she wants to wear them around her house a lot.  I've searched for a pair for her but couldn't find some small enough.  She couldn't remember where she found these but last night it became my mission to get my baby girl some crocs.  'Daycare Lady' let Kage borrow this  pair until next week and she doesn't want to take them off!  It's so cute.  My little shoe girl.  Luckily, I found a pair of pink ones on the croc website...and found a 20% coupon!  Score!  She'll have her very own pair in about a week.

And I know that I'm way behind on the times, but my cousin told me about Pandora radio this past weekend and let me just say, Ohmagosh.  How did I not know about this?  I'm so hooked.  And because of this, I now add another tally in the "why I need an iphone" column.  I said that I didn't get the fascination with this new technology but the more that I think about it....I'm fascinated.

I've applied at three different local bars trying to get a part time server position for the summer and didn't receive a call back on ANY of them.  What the heck?  I have never had a problem finding a job before....but the more that I think about it, the more I realize that I think I'm finally 'too old' to be a server.  They are looking for that young 20-something and not the frumpy 32 year old mom.  Ugh.  Do you even know what a blow that is to the ole' self esteem?  Yeah.  Sucks.  I really do want to find a part time something until I student teach but I just don't know where to look.  I've been out of the whole part time scene since I was that young 20-something and I feel out of the loop.  Similar to how I felt when I got out of maternity clothes and forgot how to dress in regular clothes.  I'm still not up on the styles.  Those 9 months out of style really screwed me. 

I am down to about 65 minutes left of nap and I must shower. TTFN.

The ABCs of Me!

For my 200th post, I wanted to do something different....and I got a great idea from one of my favorite bloggers, LAH, over at Diving Into Love.  So here it goes....

A. Age: 32 (ugh...how *did* that happen!?)

B. Bed size: Queen...and thinking about upgrading to a king.

C. Chore you dislike: Bathrooms.  Ick.   

D. Dogs: Lucy.  And she's more than enough.

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee.

F. Favorite color: pink

G. Gold or silver: Silver.

H. Height: 5'5"

I. Instruments you play(ed): Notta.  Took piano lessons but gave up before I learned much of anything.

J. Job title: mom and student

K. Kids: Just one!  The most beautiful little girl, KG!

L. Live: Chicago-land

M. Mom’s name: Joyce

N. Nicknames: Don't think I really have one.  Maybe "Mama"

O. Overnight hospital stays: Once for an unidentified virus I got from working in a daycare, gall bladder complications, several preterm issues, then 10 nights when KG was in the NICU.   I think I've done my share. 

P. Pet peeves: stupidity, slow drivers, big egos

Q. Quote from a movie: There's no place like home...

R. Righty or lefty: Righty

S. Siblings: Older brother, younger brother, step-sister and step-brother

T. Time you wake up: 6:00 on MWF and 4:30 on Tues and Thurs

U. Underwear:  VS, and it's time for a new underwear wardrobe

V. Vegetables you don’t like: I love them all.

W.What makes you run late: Life.  I can't seem to be on time for anything (except school).

X. X-rays you’ve had: teeth, back......can't think of others.

Y. Yummy food you make: Chicken and rice casserole, chicken and noodle casserole, meatloaf

Z. Zoo animal favorites: giraffe

No clue why the spacing is whack on this post.  My apologies.

I think he's ill..

We were walking around in Barnes & Noble the other day and casually, my husband says, "I want another baby."

Haha, yeah.....sure you do.

And then the next day, Kinley was displaying the best of her toddler ability at making our life as crazy as she possibly could.....

And he retracted his statement.  Thank God.