New Year, Same Thoughts....

Last year I posted this.  I am AGAIN trying this blogging thing.  I really want to keep up with it.  A better place to post those random thoughts! 

So here is a recap of 2013, plus my wishes for 2014. 

What did 2013 bring:
-1 outpatient and 1 inpatient surgery - both for me.  Shocking I know!  However, due to the inpatient surgery (hysterectomy) I will not need anymore outpatient surgeries for those issues. 
-S had some thyroid issues (low) and saw an endocrinologist. 
-X developed a petechea rash that landed us in the E.R. at Cardinal Glennon, an overnight stay at Cardinal Glennon and a visit to a hematologist/oncologist with no real answers to date.  Yes he still gets the rash but no it's never bad enough to put him through the testing they need to do.
-5 movies (down from last year's six) and 3 of them were kids (Frozen, Planes and Monsters University) and 2 were Marvel (Thor 3 and IronMan3). 
-S got to stay in Chicago for over a week with my dad and Connie
-S ran/jogged her 3rd 5k (2nd one in Chicago and this time without a walking boot)
-My brother got married in a small Catholic ceremony (the party will be in 2014)
-My brother (same one) announced they are having a baby 2014
-Ryan's brother and his wife are having a baby girl in 2014
-My dad was diagnosed with cancer.  It sucks.  But he's a fighter and still fighting so thankful for that.  On the upside to that I have seen my dad 13 times!  Just regret it took him getting sick for me to make the time to go up there.  It's not that I didn't care before.  It's hard making that time with two kids at home.  However, my husband has been an awesome support person and never once complained about the trips I have made up there or the times those trips have left him a single dad. 
-I became more involved with the band program at school.  Much to S's disappointment.  She doesn't like it when I yell at other kids on the bus.  Get use to it kid.  :)
-I bought a new car (first one I financed by myself)!  This was exciting.  However I could have done without the excitement of dealing with a bad transmission within the first 200 miles and the 2 month long battle to get it right.  But it's right and Ford worked with me.  The dealer was awesome.  Thank you for small town living.  I think business strive harder to please their customers if they have to face those customers on a daily basis/first name basis.  They care. 
-I got my mother's ring for mother's day/birthday.  I was surprised.  I wanted one for years but was not expecting one this year. 
-I did not do black friday shopping for the first time since 2007.  I was sad but did get some online deals.
-X finished first year of Prek.  He is quite a character and known for it.
-S continues to maintain honor roll and loves band

Goals for 2014
-Lose more weight
-See parents more
-more game days with our family (ryan and kids)
-communicate better with Ryan
-More zoo time
-run a 5k

Not really goals but dreams for 2014
-some sort of family trip aside from chicago
-girls trip
-Vegas
Doesn't have to be all 3. 

Now to address my goals from last year.
Goals for 2013:

-Lose weight.  (I did lose about 20 pounds this year, all since my surgery but need to keep it up)

-More specifically fit into a size smaller bridesmaid dress for brother's wedding

-go to Nauvoo to visit the H family (I did this for the Grape Festival)

-Go to Festival of Lights as a family in November (we did not make it.  surgery recovery interfered)

-Go somewhere fun for vacation, nothing extravagant like Disney. Just a family vacation. (fail)

-start a regular exercise program, either walking at night (even with hot or cold) or just doing SOMETHING that gets me moving (to help with first goal) (fail)

-cut down on ski.   (fail)

-have family fun day/night once a week (fail)

-have more date nights with hubby.  (fail)

-see my parents more than just holidays (fail - I did see my dad more but under circumstances beyong my control so rather see him more this year on better circumstances and i need to make more time for my mom and dad.  we live 15 min apart but i don't go there enough)

-get more organized (fail)

-actually try at least 5 recipes from pinterest (I pin but don't always follow through so that pinterest is not just another online time waster, I want to actually do some of the stuff I pin) (tried maybe 3)

-actually try at least 5 crafts or projects from pinterest (see above) (fail)

-remember to bring my lunch to work (I suck at this) (fail)

-get up earlier again. I kind of been slacking and have no motivation in the a.m. (fail)

-don't be so negative. (fail)

-keep up with our online shutterfly family site.  (fail)

-spend less time on the phone (calls and texting)(fail)

-spend less time on the computer doing random useless things (when there is plenty to do around the house or with the kids)(fail)
-want to get together with the Naylors at some point (did this a couple times this year.  would like to do again)
-go to Vegas just because, just for fun (this may not become reality but we'll see...you never know) (fail)
-stop trying to please everyone. I always end up with the short straw when I do. (fail)
-get in shape and do some 5ks with S (fail)
-go to zoo 6 times. (fail)

  I made my 2014 goal list smaller to maybe actually knock a few things off that list.

Pinning!

I have pinned so much crap the last couple of weeks.  Crap I probably will never try but I pin anyway!  I have 313 total pins.  I decided to look and see what of those pins I have actually attempted.

Recipes:
I have tried this Sausage Stuffed Shells and they are awesome.  Actually I want to make them again.

Serena made this Lazy Cake Cookie and it was awesome.  We changed it a bit by getting a fudge cake and white chocolate chips.  We want to try it with the vanilla cake and chocolate chips and also fudge cake with caramel chips or fudge with peanut butter chips.  So we have plans to make this many times!

These are awesome too.  All you need is Oreos, marshmallows and butter.  We made it with regular oreos and used the mint oreos.  Both were awesome.

Crafts:
We made these ornaments last Christmas and serena loved to do it.  They are cheap and easy.  My kind of craft.

We also made these plates.  The instructions from the pin I used disappeared so here is one of the plates we did and the instructions.

Take a dollar store ceramic plate and use a sharpie to design your plate.  bake it in the oven on a pizza pan at 350 for 10 min.

So of my 313 pins, I have done 5 projects! woohoo.  I  think I need to stop pinning and start actually trying some of these.  A few of them I can't wait to try for my brother's wedding.  And a few of them are just quotes, or lists, etc.  Stuff that really is not executable.  

So all you pinners out there.  What have you actually tried and succeeded at?   

random thoughts

I hate being off this long.  I am bored.  I hate using cal days for this.  And it bothers me that despite knowing this was warranted, It was not a frivolous break from work....1 ER visit, 2 doc visits, 2 vicodin prescriptions, 1 lortab prescription and an antibiotic, 2 incisions, 2 cysts, 1 CT scan, 1 ultrasound, 2 IVs,  and nearly 14 days later....out of all of that what bothers me the most is what people think about me and what people think about me missing this much time from work and how much it has affected my coworkers.  That is what bothers me.  What kind of person does that make me? I know i shouldn't be so concerned what they think.  I didn't plan this.  I have no control over this and I am not sure what else I could have done to prevent it.  But in the end, I hate that I know this has been a burden on them.
Before anyone comments, I shouldn't care let me explain.  We work for a big firm in a regional office.  Due to budget constraints, we are down to four secretaries and an office manager to support our attorneys.  We are busy when all four of us are there.  We are slammed when one person is out a day at a time.  So when someone misses over two weeks (unplanned) I know unfortunately it hits the entire office...hard.

Dream Job....

The more I help with my brother's wedding the more I realize that I love planning weddings.  almost to the point of it being a fault.  Someday, maybe in my next life, I am going to be a wedding planner.  Of course it is so much more fun now.  With pinterest and lots of DIY ideas.  Now if only I had the time and money to be a wedding planner....it would be my dream job!

I brought this up before talking about the wrong profession and liking to be creative.  The two go hand in hand.  Darn bills, and benefits....

If money were no object, what is your dream job?

imaginary friends....

Did you have one?

I don't recall having one.  I have not heard any stories about me having one.  I know my younger brother had one.  His name was Mike. This was following a car issue and my parents dealt a lot with a local auto body place and the owner's name was Mike.  Hence mike the imaginary friend....

X lately has an imaginary friend.  His friend's name is Mickey which we have yet to determine is THE mickey mouse or if he's saying Nikki/Nicky because he can't say that name and he has one, almost two, aunt Nicky/Nikkis.  Ryan's brother married a Nicky and my brother is getting married to a Nikki. 

"Mickey" goes everywhere with us.  I keep forgetting to find out from teachers and daycare staff if "mickey" is around during the day.  I know "mickey" leaves with us in the morning.  And X walks around the house holding "mickeys" hand and he gets him ready and talks about leaving with him.  It gets kind of creepy at times.  I have gotten in trouble for sitting on "mickey" and interrupting "mickey" and X is so serious when he talks about "Mickey" 

So how long does this imaginary friend stage last? 

Friends

I love my friends.  I have been with the same group of friends since 1998.  I have my parents to thank for that.  I was not making much money at my current job and my dad told me I had to get another job or park the car.  I didn't want to work at Hardees but dad made me apply and I got it.  Low and behold I actually loved that job.  We had a great group of people there.  They were fun and actually the first group of friends I hung out with on a regular basis.  We have stayed friends all these years.  Been in each others weddings, heck some even dated and married each other.  We all have kids the same age and try to get them together once a month.  I love my friends. 

We lost one 5 years ago and since 2009 the guys from the group who were on a dart team with Jason, have put together a dart tournament in his memory and every year donating the money to a worthy cause (American Heart Association, Relay for Life, Humane Society, and Hannah's Playground --I think I am missing one but don't recall what it was).  Every year the tournament seems to get better.  The guys do a terrific job in honor of Jason.  Every year its neat to see the other people who come to support the cause in memory of Jason.  So many of their classmates are there.  It's really neat to see how many people come together to remember such a great friend. 

The future

Do you ever wonder what your kid is going to be when they grow up?  Right now if you ask X he would tell you "santa."  Little does he know we are all "santa" at some point (if you have kids) and its not as glamoruous as you expect as a child.  You don't get magical reindeer, you don't have elves making the toys or wrapping the presents.  It's all you.  But seriously I wonder what his choice job will be.  Once he figures out superheroes and santa are just imaginary.  He is pretty argumentative (attorney) but he is also very kind and caring when someone is hurt (doctor), but he is also very into tools and watching people do real work (okay not calling attorneys or doctors not real work but you know what I mean.  a blue collar, get dirty, sweat a little work).  He also declared fire fighters are cool.   Actually if you would ask him today what do you want to do when you get big?  he will likely answer....Soccer. 

S on the other hand is our artsy child.  she loves anything artsy.  Too bad there is not much money in that field.  She definitely is not a sporty child.  She wants to be but let's face it...it's just not there.  Serena loves to write, and draw, and play her clarinet.  She likes to sing and dance.  Who knows where she will land. 

What do we want them to be when they grow up?  Happy!  whatever profession that may be or wherever that may be (S has declared she is going to college in Chicago).  Good luck dad and connie. 

Curiosity?

Who actually reads my ramblings?  I know a few people are (without me having to even promote it on FB with a link).  Yes I know my blog is not that one of goal oriented blogs (recipes, crafts, etc.)...it's just random.  Which is fine.  I am random and its random thoughts I have.  Instead of posting my every thought, gripe, annoyances, etc. on facebook, I blog.  I am not out to get a bunch of views.  Some days it's just an outlet for my frustration or amusement.  I am just curious who actually reads it.  If its random people, or if its people who actually know me. 

wrong profession

Don't get me wrong.  I like my job (for the most part) but I honestly think I went into the wrong career.  I wish I had a more "creative" job. I love creating invites, programs, etc on the computer and getting to be creative.  That and making lists.  Maybe I could find a job that pays me to make pretty lists... Ha!  just kidding.  I will stick to my 9 to 5 job and continue being creative on the side. 

creative parenting

So we have been told by people that we are creative at coming up with punishments for our kids.

Several years ago our daughter decided to take the wrong bus home.  Long story short, everyone went into panic mode.  I called the principal (so he could look up the names of some of her friends parents and contact info) and my brother in law (because I was in st. Louis, not in our hometown and he was, and he's a cop), my husband, my father in law was called by someone not sure who anymore, plus my aunt and uncle who run the buses were trying to find her.  Well we eventually found out that she took a different bus than her normal one because she wanted to sit with a friend.  She knew this was wrong and even when the bus driver called her out on it, she said I can ride any bus, they all go out to aunt and uncles (she went to their house after school at the time).  Well she WAS told this, but told in the context of if you miss your bus don't worry you can take any of them and make it to aunt and uncles.  So yeah.  She took that statement and made it into what she wanted.  We were furious with her and made her write an apology to my aunt and uncle, her uncle, her grandpa, the principal, her normal driver and the other driver whose bus she got on, for wasting their time and lying to the drivers.  Needless to say, she has not gotten on the wrong bus since (on accident or purpose). 

 

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to be creative with our son.  He is 3 and can be quite destructive with his sister's belongings (she needs to stop leaving stuff lay but anyway).  She had just gotten a weaving loom (you know the plastic ones used to make potholders) on Friday from my mom for her birthday that was coming up (sunday).  On Sunday before everyone came over, our son threw the loom and a plastic peg broke off making it hard to weave the loops.  So we made him take money out of his crayon bank to replace it.  Now his bank is filled with change and grant it probably at least $10.00 worth but I am not that mean to the walmart cashier or my husband who was taking him to walmart so while he was unaware we hid a $10 bill in his bank.  We opened the bank, made him get the money and explained he was going to walmart to replace the broken loom.  So that's what he did.  X and my husband went to wally world, got the loom and made him pay for it.  He got home and had to give it to S and tell her sorry.  Honestly I think I can say he has not thrown anything of hers since then.  Not to say he has not found other ways to torture his older sister but he has not broken anything of hers since.  Whether or not he understood the concept at 3 I am not sure but it was worth a try and probably better than anything else I could come up with.  Timeout seems to be useless with him.  We still do it, but not sure it does any good.  half the time he falls asleep in timeout (even within the 3 min. timelimit) probably because he's usually very tired in the evening which prompts his less than stellar behavior. 

 

So what's your creative parenting style? 

Games, Games, Games

We have decided to start playing more games as a family.  Just in the last two months we have gotten Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, Clue, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Uno (jack skellington), Jenga, and Can you Name 5?.  Oh and our newest purchase of Munchkin Booty (as in pirates...get your minds out of the gutter).  I said FAMILY game night. 

I highly recommend Munchkin Booty.  Its a card game and we got ours at a comic shop.  Look it up online.  I didn't want to like it and actually really enjoyed playing it.  Go figure.. I thought it was going to be some silly game that only my husband would have interest in and maybe our daughter.  Our son loves it just because it has a pirate reference.  Doesn't take much to please that kid. 

Anyway, back to family time.  Our kids love games.  I think S's favorite is Clue right now and X's favorite is Sorry.  He LOVES that game.  He is a bossy game player though.  He gets to choose what color everyone is.  And he is ALWAYS red, which is funny because that is my favorite color and I what I would always choose.  Earlier this week we were playing Life and I kept trying to move the red car (X) on my turn.  Ryan kept correcting me saying that's X......well sorry for years I have been red until my 3 year old came and decided to run the show.  :)

Speaking of Life, I am happy to report, every time we play X chooses to go to college (not sure he knows what that is at this point) but I think he has learned if he goes to college he gets to pick two random jobs then pick from those two jobs (after he has seen them).  Whereas if you don't go to college you get to pick one random card and that is what you are stuck with.  Our most recent life venture both kids choose college.  X became an accountant and S became a Vet.  Both lost their jobs and X became an athlete...he was excited.  S drew police officer.  She was disappointed (sorry Uncle Scott, she's not following in your foot steps)....so disappointed that she was excited when she lost her job again, and got to choose a new card.  She put police office back.  Ryan shuffled and she choose police officer again.  ha.  she was not happy.  oh well...such is LIFE right?

Until my next ramblings....

You said what?

So it has come to our attention that X has quite the potty mouth.  The thing is...he's not really trying to be.  Just over the course of the holidays we have discovery a few words or phrases that need translation to avoid the looks, stares and he said what? comments. 

X was excited to get a "pile of shit" (pirate ship) for Christmas.  He told his uncle he was washing "piss" off his hands...which in reality was a Hershey's KISS.  He has been pretending to be santa lately and his reindeer are "Comet, Cupid, Bitchin ("Blitzen"), Rainbow and Mickey.  He also cannot say Percy (the green train from Thomas)...it comes out as another name for a cat.  So yeah.  You can imagine the looks, questions and stares we get from people.  We don't have a potty mouth...he just has speech problems, but I assure you we are working it.  :)  He goes to speech 2 times a week...so if you think you hear him say something "bad" stop and think does it rhyme or sound like anything else but chances are he is not saying what you're hearing. 

 

 

New Year, new thoughts...

So I am going to try this blogging thing for the bazillionth try....I have started, stopped and deleted so many blogs because I get bored with it.  Then today came to the realization that a lot of what I think about posting on facebook would probably be better suited for a blog.  So here it goes again.  Should we take wagers on how long it will be before I give up on blogging.  Nah.....

 

So, like everyone else, I have been reflecting on the past year and what 2013 will bring.  This last year has been a pretty busy and memorable year. 

 

This last year, and its sad I can say this, we went out four times by ourselves.  In January for our friend's dart tournament, May to see Avengers with another couple, July to see Batman with another couple (same couple) and to his work Christmas party in December.  Pathetic, I know.  This is something I kind of want to improve in 2013.  Don't get me wrong...we love to stay home with our kids...however, sometimes I think maybe a night out just the two of us might be much needed and well deserved.  Doesn't have to be extravagant.  Who knows maybe with Highland opening their theater again, we will venture to more movies. 

 

What else did 2012 bring?

-My first comedy show (David Collier, Joey from Full House)

-6 movies in the theater (The Vow, Avengers, Lucky One, Batman, Hope Springs, and Wreck It Ralph)

-2 ER visits (X with croup and S with broken foot)

-1 outpatient surgery (wait for it....it WASN'T me this time)-S's tonsils and adenoids were removed and we can honestly tell a huge difference.  Thank you CGCH and Dr. E. 

-7 mini vacations (Chicago, no kids, no hubby, just friends in March, Chicago, whole family in May, Girl scout camp with S in June, Chicago, just me (by PLANE) in July, Canton, with Aunt Sandy in September, Canton with aunt, mom and cousins, plus my kids in September, Chicago with the kiddos in November)

-1 day trip with S to Springfield for Girl Scouts

-S got to go to Girl Scout camp for a week (overnight, few hours away)

-S stayed in Chicago for ten days with my dad and stepmom without me hovering

-X started his school career.  He is now a pre-ker.

-X moved from my mom's daycare to a daycare center which was a huge but needed (school districts) transition and he has won over all the teachers at daycare.

-3 zoo trips (hope to go more in 2013, this summer was TOO hot)

-S ran her 2nd 5k (1st one in Chicago)

-we got a Keurig (yes that's big to me)

-my laptop died and it was replaced---trying this whole windows 8 thing

-S and I both joined the ereading world with a Kindle and a Nook

-S joined band and loves it.

-making new friends 
-enjoyed a few nights out to see my favorite band just about every time they came to Breese...I think I was borderline becoming a groupie....and dragging Kris down with me.

 

Goals for 2013:

-Lose weight.

-More specifically fit into a size smaller bridesmaid dress for brother's wedding

-go to Nauvoo to visit the H family

-Go to Festival of Lights as a family in November

-Go somewhere fun for vacation, nothing extravagant like Disney.  Just a family vacation.

-start a regular exercise program, either walking at night (even with hot or cold) or just doing SOMETHING that gets me moving (to help with first goal)

-cut down on ski. 

-have family fun day/night once a week

-have more date nights with hubby.

-see my parents more than just holidays

-get more organized

-actually try at least 5 recipes from pinterest (I pin but don't always follow through so that pinterest is not just another online time waster, I want to actually do some of the stuff I pin)

-actually try at least 5 crafts or projects from pinterest (see above)

-remember to bring my lunch to work (I suck at this)

-get up earlier again.  I kind of been slacking and have no motivation in the a.m.

-don't be so negative. 

-keep up with our online shutterfly family site. 

-spend less time on the phone (calls and texting)

-spend less time on the computer doing random useless things (when there is plenty to do around the house or with the kids)
-want to get together with the Naylors at some point
-go to Vegas just because, just for fun (this may not become reality but we'll see...you never know)
-stop trying to please everyone.  I always end up with the short straw when I do.
-get in shape and do some 5ks with S
-go to zoo 6 times.

Looking forward to:
Derrek's wedding
hopefully some trips if they happen, even if small ones
new memories with my family...however those are made. 
 

 

I am sure there are more but this is a good start.  Laugh all you want but I am hoping if it put it in black and white, maybe...just maybe I will try to follow through.  Maybe....