Spoiled Rotten

Usually little kids like to open gifts. Well mine doesn't. He has thrown a tantrum every time we have opened gifts. He is content to sit there and help me a little to open his gifts. He gets that from his dad. Austin hates to open gifts too.
I couldn't believe it. He threw himself down on the ground twice while opening gifts at Robin and Jeff's. Once at my mom and dads and once at my grandmas. I can understand my mom and dads because it was way past bedtime but everywhere else he was totally rested but just being a little butt like his dad. The next 16 years should be interesting.
I've recently been telling Austin that he can throw all the tantrums he wants but they have to be AFTER Mason goes to bed.

Yeah... that was... um... yeah...

So we got tons of snow two weeks ago. We got somewhere around 8 or 9 inches in one week. We were expecting the wind to start blowing Saturday afternoon which would then create blizzard like conditions.

We had planned on getting together with Austin's parents for their Christmas on Sunday so I made the executive decision to just go over on Saturday and stay the night. That way we wouldn't have to worry about traveling even that short distance with Mason.

Saturday everything is going good I have the car loaded with everything we are going to need and extra. I say extra because I already had Mason and I already packed to go down to southwest Iowa for Christmas and instead of pulling out just what we would need I just put our whole bags in the car. Which turned out to be a good thing.

So, anyways, Saturday is going good. It isn't too cold out the wind isn't blowing yet and Mason and I are just about ready to go. Austin has agreed to come over later and bring the Wii with some games.

Just as I am taking Mason out to the car the wind starts up. So off we go. By the time I get to the highway... I can see nothing.

Don't think I let that stop me.

Nope.

I knew that it would only affect me for a couple of miles. About an hour later we get there. They have a really long and curvy driveway we get about halfway down it we can see the house and we get stuck in a snow drift to the side of the drive way.

Jeff's plowing abilities leave something to be desired. It is like he is afraid to lower the bucket anymore. There was probably a good 4 inches of snow still on the drive.

Jeff had to come rescue us. He finally got the car to the house later that afternoon after he got it stuck again and then had to hooked the tractor up to it.

Mason was in heaven playing with Cheyenne (playful 7 year old Black Lab) and Boots (2 year old kitty). Saturday afternoon I helped Robin get ready for Sunday. I made my bread while she made the cherry dessert and pumpkin pies. I was to bring the rolls for lunch on Sunday so I don't think that was considered helping but I didn't make a bigger mess anyways.

Her kitchen is set up very weird. As in she has things in the most illogical places. I don't know how many times I would ask her where something was and she would have to open several doors or drawers to find it.

Austin finally showed up around supper time. We had chili with cornbread. It would have been perfect but Robin didn't have baking powder. Who doesn't keep baking powder in the house? The corn bread was still good it just didn't raise like cakes usually do.

After supper we all played Wii and got beat at bowling by Robin. Austin beat us all in Golf, at least the first game. I took the second which is how it should have been anyways.

Mason went to bed around 8:30 like normal and was good. The rest of us stayed up later playing Wii. I finally gave it up about 10 and went to bed. I thought Austin would follow later. I wake up at 3 to let the dog outside and Austin wasn't in bed.

My first thought was that crazy bastard is staying up all night playing video games.

Imagine my surprise when I go upstairs and everything is dark and his pick up is gone out of the driveway.

Yep!! That crazy SOB went home. In blizzard conditions. I was less than thrilled.

Don't even begin to think that I stayed up all night worrying about him. NOPE! I went back to bed and slept peacefully until Mason woke up at 8. I figure he had a cell phone on him and would have called if he had run into trouble.

The next morning was Sunday and we were celebrating Christmas. Austin showed up around 10:30. I didn't even get a chance to give him a proper tongue lashing because his mother took care of it for me. She was mad. Austin took it all in stride and actually laughed at the end.

Princess Hateful Raquel and Dan showed up around 11:30. I don't know what it is about her but Hyde just loves her. He jumps in her arms and whines when she puts him down. I don't get it. It is a little annoying when my child follows the dogs lead and follows her around and gives her kisses.

As annoying as she is at least she doesn't talk non-stop. I swear Dan doesn't shut up. I know in a normal house this wouldn't be a big deal and would most likely be considered starting a conversation but this isn't a normal family. It just feels like he asks a hundred questions.

This family doesn't have normal conversations they have heated debates. These debates are not rational and are not held before lunch they are held after dessert over a game of cribbage. Everything else can be considered polite chit-chat.

We didn't end up going home this day either because it was too darn cold out and the roads were too bad. Austin drove through drifts that came up to the bumper on his truck. He sure didn't let that stop him from going home though. He got to go home and ended up playing Wii all night.

I ended up having to sit through some uncomfortable silences. I am sure it didn't feel uncomfortable to Robin and Jeff but it was for me. How was I to get comfortable with my M-I-L reading my mind all evening. It did get better when she got out her new camera and started playing with it. At least until she started to ask me a hundred questions. Not that I mind answering questions it is just the way she asks them. Like she has perfect timing that as soon as I start to do something else she calls me over again. I think Austin gets this from her because he does the same thing.

Monday afternoon Robin and I took Mason to town. First we went to lunch at Perkins. Mason charmed all the young college students that were stuck working during break. There was a young couple there sitting in the booth across from us and Mason kept turning around and flirting with them both. Just being generally cute and the husband says 'If you could guarantee that our kids would turn out like that I wouldn't mind having one or two.' The wife was so happy after she heard that. After they left Robin looks at me and says 'Man are they in for it. They don't know that Mason threw 2 tantrums just on the way into the building.'

Next we went to see Santa. Mason was so excited to get to sit in Santa's lap and pull on his beard. Thankfully we got one with a real beard. Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas and all I could understand was truck and baby and then he throws his head back and laughs. Santa was surprised and asked me his age twice.

By the time we got back home the roads were good enough for Mason and I to go home. So I loaded up the car and attempted to get the car out of the driveway. It only took two tries and the tractor.

When we got home the house looked like I hadn't been home in a month. There wasn't a clean dish or any silverware and there was just junk everywhere. I was less than thrilled considering I had just cleaned it Friday and it was only Monday.

After some power cleaning and doing some major laundry it sure felt good to sleep in my own bed considering it would be the only time for over a week.

Oh, WOW!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I promise to update on Monday with photos even. Here are just a couple of teasers:
1. I didn't get saved from having to stay the night (or two as the case may be) with the in-laws.
Yeah... that was... um... yeah...
2. Mason was spoiled rotten with all the gifts he received. He only threw 4 tantrums while opening presents. I was so proud...
3. We have our new-to-us car but it is currently stuck at the in-laws. Thanks to the blizzard like conditions.
4. Christmas was wonderful. How could a celebration of the birth of Christ be anything but wonderful.
5. My sister turns 30 on Monday (ha ha ha). I am sure there will be much more to this story. We are going out to celebrate tonight. I don't drink and will have a camera that by the time I pull it out the rest will be so drunk they won't remember even getting their pictures taken. My favorite kind of photos. Real candid and embarrassing.
6. Did I mention that I have been untethered from the mother-leash since Christmas night. I am hoping it becomes our family tradition. Well maybe, we'll see how I am doing about it tonight. I won't leave you hanging on this one...
Christmas night Austin, Mason and Hyde rode home with his parents and I stayed for my sisters birthday party and to do some things with my mom. I have so many feelings about this that I will go into more detail on Monday. I have to find out some opinions on this. I have to know if what I am feeling is normal or not. Over all I think this experience is good for us because now Austin gets to see what my days are like. I talked to him about 9 last night and he said he was E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D. Really made my heart soar to hear that. He said he didn't even get to shower yesterday. I know the poor baby.

So there are the teasers. My moms dial-up is more than I can stand after my blink-fast internet at home. Just checking my bank balance was a lesson in patience (excuse the spelling I don't have the stamina to wait for the spell check- Translation- I really have to pee but am dancing in my chair holding it until waiting until I post this so that my nephews don't delete it or fill it with naughty words)

Snow

Last night we got a bunch and bunch of snow. So much snow that it rubs Hyde's belly and touches the bottom of my car. I opened the back door and it comes up about 10 inches on the door.

Mason

Many more photos of Mason can be seen here...

Snow? I like snow...

Yesterday morning Mason and I went outside to play with his sled. He loved it!! He would laugh and giggle the whole time we were moving. He had to cry whenever we would stop. I think he is really cute in his little snow suite he looks like a blue marshmallow. Faster mom!

He tried to clap his hands with it and even put some in his hood but surprisingly enough the chunky kid didn't try to taste it.

I thought it was so cute. He sees that the snow is a different level than the ground he could see so he thought it was like a step. Needless to say he 'fell' through.
At this point he decided he was done. Especially after he lost his little glove. He got himself up and marched right to the door. I was laughing so hard.

Some people are crazy...

I was looking at my local tv stations "Share The Joy" a holiday photo slideshow and I couldn't believe how many crazy pet people there are out there. There were more pet pictures than people pictures.
I know you want to take a peek, let me know I'm not alone. Not saying I don't have some crazy pet pictures but I would never put them out there for the world to see. Maybe on my blog but never to a tv station.

Share the Joy

It's the most wonderful season of all...

It snowed all day yesterday. All. Day. I tell you. Normally I wouldn't mind because I generally don't go anywhere anyways but the little mutt I so lovingly call 'The Hairless Wonder' doesn't like to go outside when it is cold. So every 20 minutes I have to let him outside so that he can run to my car and mark the tire and run back inside. Over and over again all day. I do get a kick out of it when he has to go #2. If I'm watching him he will run as far away as he can and run around in a circle until it falls out of his butt. It is like he is afraid his feet are going to freeze down. I have been trying to catch this on video but he has not been cooperating with me. This morning he pooped right on the back steps because I wasn't watching him. And to think I only around 10 more years of this. Yay me!
It started to come down around 6 or 7 and ended finally around 5 or 6. For a lot of the day the there was a slight breeze so it didn't stick to the huge side yard until about 2. The side yard with the clothes line is sheltered and now has around 8 inches. It is beautiful. A nice fluffy light weight snow that is easy to shovel.

This was taken last night around 10 while I was 'helping' Austin get his truck started and loaded with weight. Honestly how much help did he think I was going to be when he saw me take my camera out with me.

I thought I did pretty good considering I didn't have my tripod.

This is our road looking south.

This is our road looking north.

Guaranteed our road will just like for 3 days. Well maybe not just like this but really close after all everyone drives down the same path.

Oh, My

So I have been trying to teach Mason to say 'Merry Christmas'. It isn't going so well. Most of the time he just looks at me like I'm crazy. A couple of times he said 'No, Momma.' A couple of other times he said 'Tada Raura, No Momma', and my all time favorite and what earned him nap early was 'Eeve I lone' (Leave me alone). What a wonderful sweet little boy I have.
I am determined that he will know Merry Christmas by Christmas. I don't care if that is the only phrase that we say all the way to my mom and dad's. It would make for a very long 3+ hour car ride though. I think he'll be able to say it. Honestly I am surprised he hasn't said it already. Words usually come so easy to him. As long as he doesn't 'You Butt' to me again or while we are there I will be a happy though.
Well I better head to town and buy milk. The weather people think there is going to be a good sized storm come through here tomorrow. One station says 4-6 another says 2-4 so we'll see. I wouldn't mind some snow. Even if that means my husband has to work from home.
I understand we have had our differences about it in the past and we have agreed that as long as he doesn't expect me to acknowledge him during the day we will get along good. For some crazy reason he expected me to take care of him during the week like I do on the weekends.
Well obviously that just isn't going to happen. I cannot help it if he isn't smart enough to know where the cereal and peanut butter and jelly are located.
I summed it up fairly easily for him I told him that he never takes care of me and that maybe he should try to get his work done and take care of me at the same time. He told me I was crazy. So I said Yeah during the week between the hours of 7 and 3 you are not my responsibility. He wasn't real thrilled with this but has gotten over it and we have gotten along great the last couple of times he had to work from home.
I even left Mason home with him and went to MOPS last time. I know he wasn't thrilled about it but got over it. Well kinda, I told him to drop it or we were having Ramen Noodles for supper the rest of the week. Amazing how fast that shut his yapper.

My Hope

It's Monday and I am for the most part done Christmas shopping. Well for people that are actually getting gifts.

We have some people on our list that are really hard to buy for and so they are getting an 8x10 of Mason. Something that they can't return exchange or re-gift. Some are getting them framed some are not. You know the picky ones that all the frames in the house match. I don't know how they do it. Do they just buy a stock pile of the same frame and store them for future use. I haven't figured it out yet.

Now I just have to get the photo taken. That is easier said than done. Mason doesn't like to sit still, well not really sit still but stay in front of my back drop. I don't care if wants to sit or stand he just has to stay in front of the back drop. He doesn't agree and thinks he should be able to jump on the couch and ride his toys when he should be sitting in his cute little chair and smiling sweetly. I wouldn't even care if he wanted monkey or bear in the photo as long as he could sit still for 5 seconds and smile sweetly. He gets this from his father. I am sure of it.

The last couple of times I tired to take his photo for this he threw himself on the floor and proceeded to throw the biggest tantrums yet. The last time he threw himself back so hard we had to get out the icepack. Austin has finally agree to 'help'. Little does he know that he will most likely end up in the photo as well. Well at least one.

MOPS Christmas Brunch

Yesterday was my MOPS Christmas Brunch. I was afraid I was going to have to miss it because of the horrible roads but I decided that since Mason was staying home with dad anyways that I may as well go. It took me around an hour to get there but I didn't care because I was by myself and had given myself plenty of time. Well that and my window wasn't frozen shut.

It was nice, the food and conversation were wonderful. Afterwards I went to the store to get my guys some lunch and do a little grocery shopping.

The roads were much better on the way home which was good. Winter in Iowa is bad enough but to add bad roads on top of the windchill 3 days after the snow stopped is really unacceptable. It isn't like our county guys don't have the resources. I figure they should be able to at least keep the roads in better condition but they are probably hording the said resources for 'in case' we get a bigger storm.

I was a little glad to see that Austin was frazzled when I got home. Evidently Mason was a little naughty. Something about the computer and losing the whole mornings work. I don't know. I can't say that I cared too much. I figure if Mason was alone long enough with his laptop to do that then he wasn't watching him that great and probably deserved it.

I know another 'good wife' moment.

Well I hear Big, Big World coming on tv so I'd better get lunch made before he gets too grumpy. I am really hoping he takes more than a 30 minute nap today.

Really just an inch!!

Last night I had to move up the baby gate between the kitchen and the dining room. Mason kept getting his foot stuck on the top so I moved it up one whole inch. I know it doesn't sound like much, I mean really just an inch.
Well I think that inch is going to kill me.
Seriously I keep forgetting about it and falling flat on my face trying to get over this stupid gate. I am sure it looks funny watching me fall.
I am sure I will adjust one of these days hopefully before I break my neck.

Monkey...

This afternoon while I was on the computer I start to hear all this grunting. I look over expecting to see my son pooping his diaper but I see this instead. I can think of easier way to get into the office other than crawling under the walker.

Then I realize what his problem was. He was trying to bring his monkey with him.

Monkey usually stays in his crib that way he is up there when we get ready to go to bed or take a nap. Mason most days is okay with this arrangement but not today. Nope, today he threw a huge fit and I figured it wasn't worth the argument.

And yes those are pjs. If we don't have anywhere to go that day we don't change. That just literally doubles the laundry.

I absolutely hate these curtains they came with the house. I have the fabric to make new ones but haven't found the time to actually do the sewing. I keep thinking one of these days.

He thought I should kiss the monkey.

Going in for the kiss, eyes closed.

Kissing, eyes wide open. For his sake I hope he outgrows this.

We used to have a huge fish tank against that wall but we took it down last week and now the room feels huge.

My Lucky Day...

The roads were passable so Austin went to work today. I have never been so glad to see the tail lights leave the driveway. I didn't even complain when he had to take my car.
Before anyone goes thinking I am a cold hearted person they should know that he was a royal pain in the rump yesterday. I even reminded him that if the roads were too bad he could work from home today again.
I had to play the good wife all day. I made him breakfast lunch and dinner. All in the same day. I felt used. I don't think my being a 'good wife' should mean I have to cook all three meals on a weekday. I even made corn bread for dinner to go with the chili. I really do spoil him.

yep

Big storm tonight. Austin working from home tomorrow and Thursday and most likely Wednesday because of weather... um... yeah... we'll probably be getting divorced by next Monday. That is way too much time together in one house... alone... together... with just Mason for an ice breaker. Yeah. Pray for my husband. He will need it.

A Nice Weekend...

A nice weekend... oh, what I wouldn't give for one of those.

Saturday was spent doing laundry. A ton of laundry. I really need to go through Mason's closet and sort through all his clothes. Then I need to go through all the little boy clothes in the upstairs storage closet and get all the 2 and 3T stuff.

That should be fun. Some of the sizes are the wrong season. I can't have Mason running around in shorts and tanks in the middle of winter.

Sunday I got up early and made cookies for the party. Which was really good. If memory serves me it was around a $500 show. I think I am going to get most of my hostess credit in gift certificates because I saw the new catalog that doesn't start until the 16th and it is really good. Now I can't wait to cash them in.

Too bad I didn't get any females in my family for Christmas. Which reminds me I need to get to Hy-Vee and get gift certificates for the guys I did get. I know real thoughtful.

After the party we went with my mom, aunt, sister and grandma into to town to eat at LaCarretas. It was good. Mason flirted with the waitress and the ladies in the booth behind us. I forgot his sippy at home. Let me rephrase that, I thought he had a clean unused sippy in the diaper bag so I didn't double check. Turns out he didn't because the last time Austin took him to town he stopped at Casey's and got Mason some milk and used the clean sippy and then didn't tell me and just put it back in the diaper bag. Totally gross. Mason didn't mind because he got to drink out of a straw. I minded though because Austin knew better.

All in all the weekend was really good and I really shouldn't complain but I like to and today is a complaining sort of day.

It's Real Life~ Store It- Kitchen

This weeks theme is Store It: Kitchen over at Farm Fresh Jessica's.

I am late this week because my husband decided to work from home yesterday and took over my internet and basically the whole house. I don't know why he thought he could work from home and have it be a quiet work environment with an 18 month old running around. Obviously he is laking in the common sense department some days.

I have a huge kitchen with so many cabinets that I don't even use them all. However that doesn't mean that they are organized. Especially since this kitchen was made for a tall person and that I am not.

All these photos where taken by the rules of no cleaning before snapping. Everything is still relatively clean considering we just had Thanksgiving last week and I am having a PartyLite party this week. Otherwise I am sure it would have collected more clutter than what is seen here.

So here is my kitchen in all its glory.

Top of the fridge. I don't give this area too much thought because I am short.

Most of this stuff is Austin's.

Kitchen utensils are kept in this apple crock on the stove or on the table so that they are handy.

Under the table. Generally just the toaster is kept here but Austin likes to put anything on it that he doesn't know where it belongs.
At the moment there are some duh things on it like the fish tank filters and Mason's swim floaty.

These are the very top cabinets by the ceiling. Just misc junk and my corelle baking dishes.
NOTE~~ I am standing on a chair and still have to be on my tip toes to get to the top shelf.

Glasses, plates, bowl, measuring cups, mixing bowls, sippy cups and the ever important tea.

Cabinets above the windows. Stand mixer, extra plates and bowls, waffle maker, a really ugly cat candle that Austin got me for my birthday many many years ago.

More cabinets above the window. My blender, cookie jar, and open paper towels.
Everything else was left by previous owners and I just didn't care.

Even more cabinets up by the ceiling.

Baking goods, fry daddy, a pampered chef chopper that I've had for 5 years and it hasn't been out of the box yet. Austin's extra new gloves.

The actual food cabinet. I did have this organized but Austin thought it need some improvement and I just haven't changed it back yet.

Junk drawers. Literally JUNK.

Drawers to the left of the sink.

Hot pads and can opener.

Misc kitchen utensils. Measuring cups.

Cook books and cooling racks.

Pie and loaf pans. Custard bowls.

Under sink. The water bottle is my Windex. Austin broke the bottle.

The kitchen sink cabinet lock.

The silverware drawer. The silverware that breaks all the time are the ones with the brown handles.

Today is towel laundry day otherwise this drawer would be full.

Cake pans and cutting board.

Baggies and wraps.

Austin's junk food drawer and important receipts.

Yet another misc junk drawer. Just how many does one family need.

Misc cabinet by fridge.

Coffee maker, Scentsy warmer, flower pot with impatients.
Impatients don't do well in the house from about November to March. As soon as the days start to get longer they do really well. Until then they look like this.

Water cabinet. We added some insulation so hopefully it doesn't freeze this year.

Pots and pans.

Kitchen sink. I leave the strainers out because otherwise I would be constantly putting them away and getting the back out again.

It is so beautiful...

I need to get some photos up of the bathroom. We are in the home stretch. Finally!
The trim is not up and there are a couple of spot that need some mudding but not yet because he has to decide what he is going to do about the trim in those areas.
I know that the color choice was a little bright/dark to some peoples taste but I really do love it. I think it will look really nice with all my stuff in it. At this point I would be happy if he would just rehang my mirrors on the vanity.

Tank... Really

Well yesterday was Mason's 18 month well baby visit... I don't know how I feel about this... I am not ready for him to be 18 months.Considering it took forever to get out of the house. I let the dog out and went outside to start the car, came back in to get Mason and Hyde slipped back inside, I go back in to put Hyde in the kennel and get the diaper bag. I put Hyde in his kennel and give him his treat, I grab the diaper bag and am ready to head out when I notice the diaper bag is leaking. So I look in it to find the culprit and smell it... Yep... Dog PISS!!
Talk about a jealous pup!
So I hurry and get new diapers, wipe off the wipes... grab clean clothes to go in it and a clean diaper bag. Thankfully one was in the dryer.
We finally get on our way and everything was going good... um... yeah... all except for the part about the ride there where he got his finger stuck in a toy truck. Yes, you read that correctly. A. Toy. Truck.
Then he started to panic... and fling the truck around... and scream... all while I am driving on a questionable road covered with snow. So I pull over into a driveway and twist around to reach him and I can't get the truck off his poor little finger. I finally get it off with the ole spit maneuver and then comes the real test... Can I even get out of this stupid driveway?
It took a couple minutes of slipping and sliding but we made it out. Here is something for the record books... I was still early!! How often does that happen.
We pull into the doctors office to see my husband pulling in also. He decided to join us. Yeah... can you read my enthusiasm.
I think it was retards are us at the check in counter. Every time they ask all those questions about if everything is current. She starts in and I stop her and say 'Everything is the same.' to which she replies 'I'm sorry mam, (I saw red at that point, I am not old enough for MAM) I have to ask these questions because it has been six months since your child was in.' So she starts over with the questions. Starts over as in even asking Mason's name.
I think steam started coming out of my ears.
My husband seeing this slipped into the next line and got Mason checked in in less than 15 seconds. I didn't say anything back to her I just stomped over and asked the other lady to please put a payment on the account. The other gal follows me over and whispers in the other girls ear. I couldn't believe it but by that point we needed to get going before we were late.
I hated to just leave it at that so on the way out I stopped and asked to talk to the manager. I filed a complaint and the lady in charge was appalled by how I was treated. Evidently I am not the only person to file a complaint against this gal.
So now on to the good stuff. Mason is healthy. Duh like I didn't know that.
He weighs 29 lbs 14 oz 71 percentile and is 33 inches tall 91 percentile. The Dr. asks me all the normal questions. Yada yada yada. He picks Mason up to see how he is walking and calls him a tank. Most little kids when you pick them up are lite but he said Mason has substance to him 'like a tank, or linebacker.'
When he asked me how many words Mason knew I chuckled and asked 'Words that I can understand or words that his dad can understand?' He said 'Words that you can understand. Otherwise technically no little kids would know any words until kindergarten.' Austin looked offended but all he understands is no, Mama, and Dada. We get talking with the doctor and Mason is looking at his book and points to a truck like he had stuck on his finger and says 'Truck. ouch.' Even Austin understood it so he looks at Mason and being my son says 'what? NO! WHAT!!'
The Dr was floored. He said even though parents tell him all the time that their 18 month old knows so many words he had never seen such a demonstration of that knowledge. All I could say was 'Ouch is a new one'
So the nurse came back in and Mason got his shot and we declined the flu shot again. We were on our way.
The ride home was no better. Mason has a water sippy that has a straw and he has recently learned how to slide it open. He would open it and water would splatter all over, he would take a drink and close it. Over and over and over again for the whole 30 minute drive home. I was happy he didn't nap but upset that everything was wet.
After a quick diaper change and some dry clothes it was nap time. I don't understand why going to the doctor has to be so horrible. It really ruins the day.

I can hope can't I...

I am really hoping that Princess Hateful Raquel decides to skip my PartyLite party and not come. She is rather upset with me at the moment and I haven't even talked to her in about 3 months.

The deal is that Austin's dad got a new car (2009 Audi A4) and was going to lose money on the trade in so he is giving, yes free and clear giving, us his old car. She thinks that he should give her the car because he gave us the last one. Mind you she gets the cash value.

I found out she is upset because she talked to Grandma and I talk to Grandma. She told Grandma that and I quote "It sure would be nice if someone would just give me a car instead of me having to buy all my vehicles." That upset Grandma because Grandma and Grandpa bought Raquel her first two cars, the last being a brand new 2003 Grand Prix and didn't even get a thank you. Then she traded it off for her current vehicle a 2006 Toyota Tundra. Now all she does is complain about the gas price. Anyways... I am getting a 2005 Chrysler 300C with about 75k in miles.

Austin and I drive vehicles until they die. Well sometimes he buys vehicles that should be dead but that is a whole other story. My current little car a 99 Chrysler 300M with 182k is starting to have issues. 1. the only window that goes down is the drivers 2. the clock in the center of the dash has decided to stop working. 3. the heater settings light has gone on the fritz and I can no longer tell what the settings are for temp or fan or even where it is going to come out at. 4. the drivers seat no longer moves forward or backwards of its own accord. it is one of those things where you have to push the button and then push on it for all your worth. 5. the alarm just goes off without even being set. and the big one 6. the transmission has started to have problems on big hills by stalling or slipping.

Have I mentioned lately that I won the in-law prize. I know that we don't always get along but they really are the best. I just feel bad for Austin because he got shafted in that area.

One Of Those Days...

that you want to slap the people who say 'Good Morning'.

Well it is Monday.
There is snow on the ground and the roads are icy.
We got the bathroom painted (one coat) and I need to go get more paint.
I took a bunch of photos this weekend and now can't find the card reader.
I have exactly half a gallon of milk and 4 diapers.
This week is not starting off so good and I don't see it improving. I have so much to do before my PartyLite party next Sunday. Truly if you like candles call you PartyLite lady and get in on the really good hostess deals this month. Double hostess credit if you have a party by the 15th with one booking. That is even better than the deal I got in on this last July where I got $350 worth of stuff for a whole $20.
Anyways enough about that already we'll just say that I am busy. I have to get he second coat of paint on the bathroom and hopefully get the ceiling painted, it would be nice but sure isn't a requirement so I am not going to kill myself getting it done. Then I have to get all my little decorations hung. I have a couple of things that I got from my last PartyLite party that need hung in the bathroom. Along with a couple of wall plaques and some photos. I also have a little corner shelf that needs painted. Fun stuff you know.